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GERB won the Oct. 2 election with 25.3% of the vote, but it faces a
hung parliament, raising the risk of another snap poll as the Black
Sea country seeks to contain the impact of Europe's energy crisis
and surging inflation amid war in Ukraine.
His main rivals, the reformist We Continue the Change party who
accuse him of allowing graft to fester during his decade-long rule
that ended in 2021, have already said they would not enter into
talks with GERB for a government. So did their allies the Socialists
and anti-graft Democratic Bulgaria party.
Acknowledging the challenge, Borissov said he would be willing not
to become prime minister or even a minister if that was what was
needed to have a functioning coalition.
A new snap poll - following four already in the last two years -
would not produce different results, said Borissov, who served as
premier for more than a decade before losing an election last year
following massive anti-graft protests.
"I propose to all to think and try to see how things will look after
two or three months. I am ready for all kinds of compromises and
concessions in the name of the people," Borissov said in his first
comment after election.
The 63-year-old GERB leader said parties in the European Union and
NATO member state could find common ground on the country's position
on the war in Ukraine.
Once Moscow's key ally in the EU, Sofia has turned away following
Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, becoming the first EU member
alongside Poland, an anti-Russian hawk, to see its gas supplies cut
off by Gazprom.
Seven parties are seen entering parliament when final results are
known on Thursday, with former premier Kiril Petkov's We Continue
the Change party being the second biggest.
Parties from the previous cabinet accuse Borissov of allowing
widespread corruption to fester, which he denies.
On Tuesday, Borissov said he was willing to discuss in detail his
opponents' plans for judicial reforms
(Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Writing by Jason Hovet; Editing by
Andrew Heavens and Bernadette Baum)
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